Neuropsychological evaluation is recommended when brain-based differences in thinking, learning, or behavior are suspected. It helps clarify strengths and challenges and supports diagnosis (or ruling out conditions), understanding impact on daily functioning, and making recommendations for treatment, intervention, or accommodations.
Serving: Rockport (ME), Auburn (ME), and Rochester (NH).
How We Can Help
- Clarify cognitive strengths and challenges across key thinking and learning skills as well as clarifying emotional and personality factors that influence or interact with cognitive features.
- Help answer diagnostic questions (including ruling out conditions when appropriate)
- Describe impact on daily functioning (school, work, home)
- Provide recommendations for treatment, intervention, or accommodations
What's Included (High-Level)
- Clinical interview, review of relevant records (as needed), and standardized testing selected to match the referral question
- Breaks as needed, based on timeframe and patient
- A written report and follow-up feedback
When This Evaluation Is Helpful
Neuropsychological evaluation may be helpful in a wide range of situations. Common reasons include concerns related to attention, learning, memory, concussion/TBI, developmental conditions, mood/anxiety, neurological conditions, and other brain-based concerns.
FAQs
Neuropsychological evaluation is recommended for any case in which brain-based impairment in cognitive function or behavior is suspected. The following list, though not exhaustive, represents some common reasons for referral, and the questions involve diagnosis or ruling out a condition, describing the impact of a condition on cognitive functioning and daily functioning, and making recommendations for treatment, intervention, or accommodation. In many, but not all of these cases, comprehensive psychological evaluation may be appropriate rather than neuropsychological evaluation. NCMA will advise as to the best option.
- ADHD (Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder)
- Alzheimer's Disease
- ALS
- Aneurysm Clipping / Rupture (cavernous malformation vs developmental venous anomaly)
- Anxiety
- Anoxic Brain Injury (Near-drowning, Overdose, MI / Heart Attack)
- Attention problems
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Behavioral problems
- Bipolar disorder
- Brain Malformations
- Brain tumor
- Cancer and late effects of treatment
- Cerebral Palsy
- Chiari Malformations
- Concussion
- Dementia
- Depression
- Developmental regression or delay
- Encephalitis (anti-NMDAR / autoimmune, Limbic)
- Encephalopathy (Wernicke’s, Hepatic)
- Executive Function problems
- Genetic Disorders
- Huntington's Disease
- Hydrocephalus
- Korsakoff Syndrome
- Learning Disabilities
- Memory problems
- Metabolic Disorders
- Migraine
- Mild Cognitive Impairment
- Multiple sclerosis
- Neurofibromatosis
- Neuromuscular Disorders
- Obsessive Compulsive Disordersv
- Pain Disorders
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Pre-surgical (and post-surgical) evaluations (Bariatric Bypass, Spinal Cord Stimulators, Lumbar Punctures, Epilepsy, Deep Brain Stimulators, Solid Organ Transplant including Liver, Gut and Kidney and CNS tumor / language mapping)
- School or work performance problems
- Seizure disorder
- Stressors and traumatic experiences that are causing functional impairment
- Sleep apnea or other conditions that may cause insufficient oxygen
- Spina Bifida
- Stroke
- Substance Use Disorder
- Tourette Syndrome
- Toxic exposure
- Traumatic Brain Injury
It’s common to feel anxious about testing. Our neuropsychologists and qualified neuropsychological testing assistants guide you throughout the process to make the experience calm and comfortable, facilitate a pace that works for you, and offer breaks as needed. Testing involves interview, objective tests, and observation during the process. Tests may include answering questions, memory/attention tasks, paper-and-pencil work, computerized tasks, and questionnaires.
Testing length varies depending on the referral question. Some people may only be at the clinic for a couple of hours while others will be here all day with breaks. As needed, testing can be divided across multiple days. Our providers will let you know what to expect in advance based on your individual circumstances.
Key preparation guidance includes:
- Get a good night’s sleep. Avoid taking sleep medication unless you always do and won’t be groggy.
- Don’t change routines right before testing.
- Discuss any “as needed” medications with your NCMA provider in advance.
- If you take stimulant medication for attention, such as Ritalin, please contact us to get guidance on whether to take it prior to your appointment.
- Wear comfortable layers and bring snacks and a drink.
- Bring or wear hearing aids and corrective lenses if needed.
- Make sure to have photo ID and method of payment with you on the day of your appointment.
NCMA may use neuropsychometrists / neuropsychological testing assistants for part or all of test administration. They typically have at least a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field, and often have master’s degrees, as well as training relevant to test design and measurement.
For scheduling, payment/insurance reimbursement questions, office policies, and forms/records requests, please visit our General FAQ page.